Saluda resident fights city over veterans sign

By Gina MaloneTiems-News correspondent

Published: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 24, 2014 at 8:02 p.m.

Saluda native Jerry Russell remembers that as a boy during World War II, he “stood by the railroad tracks and watched trainloads of soldiers come through,” among them his father. Many years later when he and other veterans wanted a memorial downtown, Veterans Memorial Park evolved — from his fundraising efforts and, he said, with the blessing and help of city officials — on that same spot where he once stood watching the trains.

Not one to make waves, he said, Russell, a retired educator, feels he has been left no choice these days but to do just that ever since a sign he had made and put up was taken down by city officials.

It all began about two months ago when — with the city’s permission, he thought — Russell had a sign reading “Saluda–A Veteran Friendly City” placed at the intersection of Ozone Drive and U.S. Highway 176 where a town entrance sign stands. Property there is within the city limits but is a right-of-way for state-maintained Highway 176. Russell consulted the N.C. Department of Transportation, he said, as to their requirements for the sign before having it made.

Russell showed him the sign, Mayor Fred Baisden said, and Baisden provided him with a post that he already had. Baisden said he told Russell, “I don’t have a problem with the sign personally as long as it meets requirements,” and suggested that it be put in Veterans Memorial Park. He told him to contact City Administrator Erny Williams about having the sign erected. When Baisden next saw the sign, it had been placed at the town’s entrance.

According to Williams, he informed Russell before they put up the sign that the town was in the process of reviewing its sign ordinance and that the sign could stay there unless the board of commissioners had a problem with it or there was a complaint. While the city seeks to fill the position of zoning administrator, Williams has added those duties to his own.

Baisden said the town was “run loosely” for 50 years, and that there are signs up now that should not be there.

Some time during the week of Feb. 10 when it had snowed, Russell noticed the sign was gone and found out that Williams had taken it down and placed it in the back of Russell’s truck where it has remained since, he said.

Russell said he heard that a business owner who had not been allowed in the past to put up a sign downtown complained about the sign. Commissioner Leon Morgan and Baisden both confirmed that there was a complaint from a business owner. According to Williams, a complaint at a commissioners meeting led to the sign’s removal.

“I believe, in this day and time,” Russell said, “no matter how good a thing is, somebody is going to complain.”

Commissioner Carolyn Ashburn said questions arose at a meeting as to whether Russell had gone through proper channels.

“Most signs just cannot be erected without some sort of approval,” she said, adding that she’s concerned that this not become an issue pitting the city against its veterans.

“We’re not against veterans,” she said. “We’re against unnecessary signs.”

For his part, Russell believes a sign honoring veterans is not the same as one advertising a business.

“It’s not a commercial sign,” he said of the 2-foot-by-3-foot sign with black letters on a white background.

He does not think it’s good policy for officials to make a decision without a specific reason.

“They’ll have to learn sooner or later,” he said, “that they can’t just act on complaints.”

Section 11 (Signs on Public Property) of the city’s current sign ordinance states: “All signs which are erected upon or over any public street, public right-of-way or other public property shall not exceed 2 square feet per side and shall be approved by the Board of Commissioners.”

Baisden said it’s possible the issue could be voted on at the next commissioners meeting if the board wants to put it to vote. He does worry, however, that making an exception for one will mean having to make exceptions for others. He is optimistic a solution will be found.

Morgan, a Vietnam veteran, had praise for Russell’s efforts at Veterans Memorial Park and the Veterans Day celebration he organizes there every year.

“I think the sign should be left up,” Morgan said. “If it comes to a vote, I will vote to leave it up.”

Russell said he had been approached by another board member in favor of the sign.

The commissioners’ meeting will be held at 7 p.m. March 10 at Saluda Public Library. Russell is on the agenda to speak about the sign and said he has heard from many regional veterans who plan to be there to show support.

He was asked by city officials three times to have the issue put on the agenda, he said, before he agreed.

“I didn’t want to do this,” he said of speaking out at the meeting, “but it was forced on me. I’m going to speak my mind and go home.”

<p>Saluda native Jerry Russell remembers that as a boy during World War II, he “stood by the railroad tracks and watched trainloads of soldiers come through,” among them his father. Many years later when he and other veterans wanted a memorial downtown, Veterans Memorial Park evolved — from his fundraising efforts and, he said, with the blessing and help of city officials — on that same spot where he once stood watching the trains.</p><p>Not one to make waves, he said, Russell, a retired educator, feels he has been left no choice these days but to do just that ever since a sign he had made and put up was taken down by city officials.</p><p>It all began about two months ago when — with the city's permission, he thought — Russell had a sign reading “Saluda–A Veteran Friendly City” placed at the intersection of Ozone Drive and U.S. Highway 176 where a town entrance sign stands. Property there is within the city limits but is a right-of-way for state-maintained Highway 176. Russell consulted the N.C. Department of Transportation, he said, as to their requirements for the sign before having it made.</p><p>Russell showed him the sign, Mayor Fred Baisden said, and Baisden provided him with a post that he already had. Baisden said he told Russell, “I don't have a problem with the sign personally as long as it meets requirements,” and suggested that it be put in Veterans Memorial Park. He told him to contact City Administrator Erny Williams about having the sign erected. When Baisden next saw the sign, it had been placed at the town's entrance.</p><p>According to Williams, he informed Russell before they put up the sign that the town was in the process of reviewing its sign ordinance and that the sign could stay there unless the board of commissioners had a problem with it or there was a complaint. While the city seeks to fill the position of zoning administrator, Williams has added those duties to his own. </p><p>Baisden said the town was “run loosely” for 50 years, and that there are signs up now that should not be there. </p><p>Some time during the week of Feb. 10 when it had snowed, Russell noticed the sign was gone and found out that Williams had taken it down and placed it in the back of Russell's truck where it has remained since, he said.</p><p>Russell said he heard that a business owner who had not been allowed in the past to put up a sign downtown complained about the sign. Commissioner Leon Morgan and Baisden both confirmed that there was a complaint from a business owner. According to Williams, a complaint at a commissioners meeting led to the sign's removal.</p><p>“I believe, in this day and time,” Russell said, “no matter how good a thing is, somebody is going to complain.”</p><p>Commissioner Carolyn Ashburn said questions arose at a meeting as to whether Russell had gone through proper channels.</p><p>“Most signs just cannot be erected without some sort of approval,” she said, adding that she's concerned that this not become an issue pitting the city against its veterans.</p><p>“We're not against veterans,” she said. “We're against unnecessary signs.”</p><p>For his part, Russell believes a sign honoring veterans is not the same as one advertising a business. </p><p>“It's not a commercial sign,” he said of the 2-foot-by-3-foot sign with black letters on a white background. </p><p>He does not think it's good policy for officials to make a decision without a specific reason. </p><p>“They'll have to learn sooner or later,” he said, “that they can't just act on complaints.”</p><p>Section 11 (Signs on Public Property) of the city's current sign ordinance states: “All signs which are erected upon or over any public street, public right-of-way or other public property shall not exceed 2 square feet per side and shall be approved by the Board of Commissioners.”</p><p>Baisden said it's possible the issue could be voted on at the next commissioners meeting if the board wants to put it to vote. He does worry, however, that making an exception for one will mean having to make exceptions for others. He is optimistic a solution will be found.</p><p>Morgan, a Vietnam veteran, had praise for Russell's efforts at Veterans Memorial Park and the Veterans Day celebration he organizes there every year. </p><p>“I think the sign should be left up,” Morgan said. “If it comes to a vote, I will vote to leave it up.”</p><p>Russell said he had been approached by another board member in favor of the sign.</p><p>The commissioners' meeting will be held at 7 p.m. March 10 at Saluda Public Library. Russell is on the agenda to speak about the sign and said he has heard from many regional veterans who plan to be there to show support. </p><p>He was asked by city officials three times to have the issue put on the agenda, he said, before he agreed. </p><p>“I didn't want to do this,” he said of speaking out at the meeting, “but it was forced on me. I'm going to speak my mind and go home.”</p>